WHAT IS ABBOTT WORLD MARATHON MAJORS WANDA AGE GROUP?

Eldoret City Marathon has been quick to celebrate its inclusion as an Abbott World Marathon Majors (AWMM) Wanda Age Group World Ranking qualifying race. But what does this mean for the race and participants?  

The Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) is a series of six of the largest and most renowned marathons in the world - Tokyo Marathon, B.A.A. Boston Marathon, Virgin Money London Marathon, BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, Bank of America Chicago Marathon, and TCS New York City Marathon. 

In 2018, AbbottWMM launched the AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Rankings. These rankings allow the top-ranked age-group athletes to qualify to participate in the AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Championships. The rankings cover age groups for men and women from age 40 to 80+. The first AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Championships will take place in 2021. The inclusion of Eldoret City Marathon as a qualifying race for these championships means that athletes wishing to qualify for the championships will get an opportunity to earn one of up to two qualifying times for the championships by participating in the Eldoret City Marathon. The qualifying period for the championships runs from January 01, 2021, to December 31, 2021.

Eldoret City Marathon’s inclusion as an AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Ranking qualifying race creates a truly global series that runs across all continents, giving runners across the world the chance to be part of a new era of age group marathon running. Runners can now opt for Eldoret City Marathon as a qualifying event of choice and realize their dream of trying to make it to the Wanda Age Group world championships.  

The inclusion also raises the international profile of the Eldoret City Marathon as international participants will seek to participate in the race and earn a qualifying time for the championships. The inclusion is a major milestone in Eldoret City Marathon’s journey, which also includes a quest to receive a bronze label from World Athletics.